Cendana Capital Secures $470M to Back Seed-Stage Fund Managers
Cendana Capital is a prominent venture capital firm. It has been focusing on seed-stage fund managers for years. Recently, the firm has raised approximately $470 million for new funds. This boosts the firm’s total assets under management to around $2 billion.
From the recent funds, approximately $340 million will support U.S.-based investors. Whereas $67 million will help managers outside the United States. Moreover, Cendana has allocated $30 million for direct startup investments and has received approximately $30 million in commitments from the University of Texas.
Impressive Returns and Long-Term Approach
The founder, Michael Kim, continuously emphasized the importance of helping companies navigate volatile markets successfully, highlighting the challenges faced by seed-stage managers who also run companies in current market conditions.
Moreover, Kim announced Cendana Capital’s impressive returns, with the first fund achieving a 4.2x net return and 2.2x capital distributions. The firm’s second fund is steadily approaching 100% capital distribution despite being marked in the mid-threes, demonstrating its long-term investment approach.
Cendana Capital has announced its intention to retain all positions in the secondary market despite limited exit activity in recent years. The decision to sell a position remains with the fund manager, demonstrating Cendana’s enduring commitment to its fund managers. Some managers have proactively sold portions of their positions, particularly in 2021’s high-demand market for unicorn shares. Moreover, Cendana has backed a debut fund led by serial entrepreneur Mark Ghermezian, highlighting the value of founders and introducing other founders as a source of deal flow for fund managers. This strategy has proven successful despite initial challenges in understanding founders with side funds.
In conclusion, Cendana Capital’s recent fund closures highlight its ongoing success in the venture capital sector. Their focus on seed-stage fund managers and a commitment to a long-term investment strategy positions them to adapt to market changes and achieve vital returns for their investors.
